SpaceX has successfully launched its massive Starship V3 rocket, the most powerful rocket ever built, after an earlier attempt was delayed due to technical issues.

The uncrewed rocket lifted off from Texas shortly after 17:30 local time (2230 GMT) on Friday. The highly anticipated mission marked another major milestone for the company led by Elon Musk.

During the flight, Starship deployed 20 dummy satellites into space before beginning its planned re-entry. Around an hour after launch, the spacecraft splashed down in the Indian Ocean and exploded as intended as part of the test mission design.

“Congratulations @SpaceX team on an epic first Starship V3 launch & landing! You scored a goal for humanity,” Musk said following the successful mission.

The first launch attempt on Thursday had been postponed after engineers detected a malfunction in the launch tower system.

Despite experiencing engine failures in both stages of the rocket, the overall mission was considered largely successful. SpaceX achieved most of its key objectives, boosting confidence among investors and reinforcing the rocket’s importance for future space exploration programs.

NASA plans to use Starship in upcoming lunar missions as part of its Artemis program. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated Musk and the SpaceX team after the test flight.

The successful mission comes just days after SpaceX revealed plans related to a record-breaking stock market debut, further increasing global attention on the company’s ambitions in space technology.